KOKOMO, Ind. -- It was an emotional meeting more than five decades in the making – a man born in Vietnam in the 1960s was reunited with the family of his long lost American father he never knew.
Henry Cu’s father was an American GI during the Vietnam War. When his mother found out she was pregnant, she began searching for the American named "Danny," but he had already left the base in Vietnam.
"My mother told me that he was an American GI," said Cu. "When she became pregnant she went looking for my father but he had already moved from the base. She had no clue on his last name."
He never knew Cu existed.
For most of his life, all Cu knew was that his father's name was "Danny."
Cu and his mother moved to the United States in 1985. The two settled in Michigan and spent the next 30 years trying to find his father and any family he may have in the U.S.
"I went to the Vietnam Vet center and asked about my dad but they said there was thousands and thousands of "Danny's" in the army," said Cu. "I was always asking my mom, I kept asking because I was afraid that her memory would fade because of her age."
For years their search was unsuccessful until earlier this year when a friend suggested that Cu try a DNA ancestry test.
It wasn't long before the answers started rolling in.
About a month ago, a genealogist called Cu and told him that they had found two strong hits on his DNA.
"I was thrilled," said Cu. "DNA never lies."
One of those hits turned out to be his long lost cousin JoEllen Porter.
With Porter's help, the two were able to find Cu's father, Danny. Unfortunately, Danny died back in 1986 - but there was a large family in Kokomo just waiting to meet him.
"I found him but unfortunately he passed away, but it's okay," said Cu. "I know he's looking down and happy."
On Sunday, at the Mount Olive Temple in Kokomo, Cu, along with his wife and daughters, met dozens of their newly found family members for the first time.
"This is overwhelming but it's happiness," said Cu. "I just say thanks to God."
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